If you don’t like the first College Football Playoff selection committee rankings, don’t worry. Saturday’s slate of huge games guarantees major changes are coming next week.

Alabama, Clemson, LSU and Notre Dame were the top four teams in the initial CFP rankings Tuesday night.

After meeting for a day and a half at a hotel outside Dallas, the 13-member selection committee released the first of its five weekly top 25s before the four-team field is set for the semifinals on Dec. 2.

Michigan was fifth, followed by Georgia and Oklahoma. Washington State was eighth, the highest-ranked Pac-12 team. Kentucky was ninth.

Of course, the final rankings are the only ones that matter, but the playoff picture will be reshaped this weekend. Four games matching top-20 teams are on tap Saturday, including Alabama at LSU and Georgia at Kentucky.

West Virginia, 13th in the CFP, is at Texas, which is 17th. Michigan hosts Penn State, which came in at 14.

The first top four teams were no surprise. The same teams are Nos. 1-4 in the latest Associated Press poll, except with Notre Dame third and LSU fourth.

Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens, who is in his first season as committee chairman, said LSU’s FBS-leading six victories against teams with winning records gave the Tigers the edge over undefeated Notre Dame. The Irish play at Northwestern (5-3) on Saturday.

UCF was the highest ranked team from outside the Power Five conferences at 12th. The highest ranked team from the so-called Group of Five conferences at the end of the regular season is guaranteed a spot in the New Year’s Six bowls. The Knights, riding a 20-game winning streak, earned that spot last year, beat Auburn in the Peach Bowl and proclaimed themselves national champions.

UCF has yet to beat a team that currently has a winning record. The strength of schedule held the Knights back, Mullens said. “But you balance that against what you see when you watch the games,” he added.

Last season, UCF started 18th and rose to 12th by the final rankings.

Jaguars trade pass-rusher Fowler to Rams for 2 draft picks

Dante Fowler is headed to an actual Super Bowl contender.

The slumping Jacksonville Jaguars traded the fourth-year pro and 2015 first-round pick to the undefeated Los Angeles Rams just before the NFL trading deadline Tuesday.

The move gives the Rams an even more formidable front, which already had Aaron Donald, Ndamukong Suh and Michael Brockers.

The Jaguars (3-5) received a third-round draft pick in 2019 and a fifth-rounder in 2020, decent compensation for a backup who would have become a free agent at the end of the season.

The rise of Yannick Ngakoue made Fowler expendable in Jacksonville. The team opted last year to not pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie deal. Fowler was the third overall selection in 2015.

Fowler has two sacks in seven games this season while playing limited snaps behind Ngakoue. Fowler was suspended for the regular-season opener because of an arrest in 2017.

Fowler and Ngakoue also were involved in a post-practice fight in training camp, which resulted in Fowler and cornerback Jalen Ramsey getting suspended from the team for a week.

He has been a model citizen since. The Rams (8-0) are more concerned with his pass-rushing skills in the second half of the season.

The Rams are tied for eighth in the NFL with 22 sacks, but 10 of those came from Donald, who has been perhaps even more disruptive in his first season since winning The AP’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2017. Donald sacked Aaron Rodgers twice and delivered four quarterback hits during Los Angeles’ 29-27 win over Green Bay on Sunday.

To make room for Fowler, the Rams surprisingly waived guard Jamon Brown. He started all 16 games at right guard last season for the NFC West champions. Brown missed the first two games of this season, suspended for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, and Austin Blythe never relinquished the starting job.

Broncos trade wide receiver Demaryius Thomas to Texans

Demaryius Thomas’ trade from the Denver Broncos to the Houston Texans wasn’t so much a good-bye as a see-you-later.

As in Sunday, when the Texans (5-3) visit the Broncos (3-5).

“I thought about it, yeah,” general manager John Elway said Tuesday. “But, ultimately, we had to look past that and (we) thought that it wouldn’t affect our game.”

So, Elway sent his big wide receiver to the Texans for a 2019 fourth-round draft pick. The clubs also swapped seventh-rounders in next year’s draft.

Thomas, a ninth-year veteran who was first or second on most of Denver’s receiving records, has 36 catches for 402 yards this season.

Despite averaging a career-low 11.2 yards per catch, Thomas’ three TDs were tied with Emmanuel Sanders for the team lead and gave him 66 for his career, including the playoffs.

“We were not hell-bent on trading Demaryius,” Elway said, explaining he was swayed to make the move by the package of picks and the rise of rookies Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton along with that of second-year pro Tim Patrick , who caught his first career TD pass last week.

“It’s never easy when you trade a guy that’s been a household name around here for a long time and done a lot of great things, not only on the football field but also in the community, and is a good man,” Elway said.

“Plus, it’s a good spot for Demaryius. He’s going to a good football team that’s in a pennant race. So, it’ll be good for him, too.”

The AFC South-leading Texans, who beat out “three or four other teams,” for Thomas’ services, according to Elway, found themselves thin at wide receiver when they lost Will Fuller for the season to a torn knee ligament last week and have had trouble keeping rookie Keke Coutee (hamstrings) on the field.

Eagles trade 3rd-round pick to Lions for Golden Tate

Golden Tate is bringing his show to Philadelphia.

The Eagles acquired the 30-year-old wide receiver nicknamed “Showtime” from the Detroit Lions for a 2019 third-round draft pick on Tuesday. Tate has 44 catches for 517 yards and three touchdowns this season.

“This is a guy we’ve had so much respect for,” Eagles personnel boss Howie Roseman said. “I think our fans, our team, just getting him here, seeing what he brings on the field, off the field, to the practice field, the competitiveness, that’s what we’re looking for. It’s just going to raise the level of everyone.”

Tate wrote on Twitter: “It’s been real DETROIT! I’ll love ya forever. Philly Philly let’s get it!!” He then posted a GIF of fictional Philly icon Rocky Balboa jumping up and down on the steps of the Art Museum with the caption: “Mood.”

“For more than four years, Golden displayed an unwavering commitment to not only his coaches and teammates, but also the city of Detroit,” Lions executive vice president Bob Quinn said in a statement.

“The impact he made on and off the field set an example for our team and serves as a testament to his character.”

Tate averaged 93 catches, 1,056 yards receiving and five TDs the past four seasons in Detroit. He went to the Pro Bowl after the 2014 season. Tate spent his first four seasons with Seattle, helping the Seahawks win the Super Bowl his last season.

Tate played primarily in the slot for the Lions. Agholor thrived in that spot last season, but has been used outside this season.

Packers deal RB Ty Montgomery to Ravens

The Green Bay Packers have traded running back and kick returner Ty Montgomery to the Baltimore Ravens.

Baltimore was sending a seventh-round draft pick to Green Bay in what was a busy trade deadline day for Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst.

Green Bay also traded starting safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to the Washington Redskins for a 2019 fourth-round draft pick. Clinton-Dix, who can become a free agent after this season, was drafted out of Alabama in the first round in 2014.

Montgomery is moving on two days after fumbling a kickoff return with about two minutes left in a 29-27 loss to the Los Angeles Rams after being told by coaches to take a touchback if the kick went into the end zone. The turnover cost the Packers a chance to drive for a potential game-winning score.

The Ravens are 24th in the league in rushing at 96.6 yards per game.

Montgomery had 26 carries for 105 yards and a score in seven games. He had 15 catches for 170 yards.

The Packers’ third-round draft pick in 2015 out of Stanford, Montgomery initially played receiver before being moved to running back the following season because of injuries to Eddie Lacy and James Starks.

He ran for a career-high 457 yards on 77 carries in 2016, though he has been slowed by injuries.

Montgomery entered this season splitting time at running back with Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones, but played just six offensive snaps on Sunday against Los Angeles with Jones, a big-play threat, taking the starting job.

Montgomery spoke in the locker room on Monday about his uncertain role and anonymous criticism from teammates following his mistake against the Rams.

Redskins get Ha Ha Clinton-Dix from Packers for 4th-rounder

Aiming to improve a defense that’s carried them to the top of the NFC East, the Washington Redskins added safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix from the Green Bay Packers at Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline for a 2019 fourth-round draft pick.

Clinton-Dix, who can become a free agent after this season, joins D.J. Swearinger to give the Redskins (5-2) a pair of veteran safeties who rank at the top of the league in interceptions.

Second-year player Montae Nicholson has been starting at safety alongside Swearinger for Washington, which is on a three-game winning streak heading into Sunday’s game against the visiting Atlanta Falcons.

Clinton-Dix was drafted out of Alabama in the first round in 2014 by the Packers and has appeared in all 71 games since, starting 65.

He has 14 interceptions, including three this season for Green Bay (3-3-1), which is in third place in the NFC North and also traded away running back Ty Montgomery on Tuesday to Baltimore.

One of Clinton-Dix’s picks came in Green Bay’s 31-17 loss at Washington in Week 3. After grabbing the football when tight end Jordan Reed went one way and quarterback Alex Smith threw another in the second quarter, Clinton-Dix ended up by the Redskins sideline, where he slapped palms with Swearinger.

Currently, Swearinger leads the NFL with four interceptions, while Clinton-Dix is in a group of 14 players tied for second place right behind him.

Clinton-Dix, who tweeted “Much love y’all” with an emoji of a piece of cheese, joins a substantial core of defenders on Washington’s roster who played for coach Nick Saban at Alabama. That includes recent first-round picks Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne along the defensive line, and second-round pick Ryan Anderson at linebacker.

Seahawks’ Kendricks banned 8 games for insider trading

The NFL has suspended Seattle Seahawks linebacker Mychal Kendricks for eight games for his role in an insider trading scheme.

The suspension announced Tuesday for a player who won a Super Bowl with Philadelphia last season includes time served.

Kendricks pleaded guilty in September to one count of securities fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud. He faces up to 25 years in prison when sentenced in December.

Kendricks was suspended indefinitely by Commissioner Roger Goodell on Oct. 2. He is eligible to rejoin Seattle for Week 12 at the end of November. But he can’t play again until Week 14, when the Seahawks host the Vikings for a Monday night game Dec. 10.

Cleveland had signed the 28-year-old Kendricks in the offseason, then released him in August after he was charged. Seattle signed him in early September and he played in three games, with 12 total tackles and a sack in the last two games for Seattle before his suspension.

Board recommends Durkin to return as Maryland football coach

DJ Durkin is poised to return as head of a splintered Maryland football program, coming back to the sideline following multiple investigations involving the death of a player and bullying by the coaching staff.

Not everyone is happy about the University System of Maryland board of regents recommendation Tuesday that Durkin, who has been on paid administrative leave since Aug. 11, should retain his job, along with the university president and athletic director.

The decision not only opens the door for Durkin to return to the team as soon as this week, but raises questions on and off the field.

“We believe coach Durkin has been unfairly blamed for the dysfunction in the athletic department,” said Jim Brady, chairman of the board of regents. “He has acknowledged his role in the athletic department’s shortcomings.”

Durkin was placed on administrative leave after offensive lineman Jordan McNair collapsed during practice, which spawned an investigation into the potential dangerous culture of the football program.

In a statement issued by the University, Durkin said he was “grateful for the opportunity to rejoin the team” and appreciated the support of the board of regents.

The attorney for McNair’s parents in August called for Durkin to be fired , and reiterated that assertion during a news conference that started a couple of hours after the board’s announcement.

Hassan Murphy, of Murphy, Falcon & Murphy, said the decision to retain Durkin was “callous and indefensible,” and could be a part of future legal actions.

Agent: Realmuto won’t sign long-term deal with Marlins

The agent for catcher J.T. Realmuto says his client has informed the Miami Marlins he won’t sign a long-term contract, increasing the likelihood the team will trade yet another All-Star.

The Marlins have said they’d like a lengthy deal with Realmuto, but they’re coming off their ninth consecutive losing season and in a rebuilding phase that will probably continue for several years. Realmuto doesn’t become eligible for free agency until after the 2020 season and would command a considerable return in a trade.

“I think he will definitely be wearing a different uniform by the start of spring training,” said his agent, Jeff Berry, on MLB Network Radio on Tuesday.

A new deal with Realmuto would send a signal the team’s roster might no longer be a revolving door as players depart when they become too expensive. But the catcher asked to be traded a year ago when the Marlins dismantled under new CEO Derek Jeter, and a 98-loss season apparently didn’t change Realmuto’s desire to play elsewhere.

“J.T. has informed the Marlins’ ownership, he has informed their front office, he’s not going to sign an extension in Miami,” Berry said. “You could keep him for two years or not. It makes sense, when you have one of the more valuable trade assets in baseball, to move him. Period.”

The Marlins declined comment.

Realmuto, 27, made the All-Star team for the first time this year and had 21 homers and 74 RBIs, both career highs, while batting .277. He had a $2.9 million salary this year after losing in arbitration, and he is eligible for arbitration this winter and again following the 2019 season.